2020 Racines Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée Sta. Rita Hills

Terroir

Gazos clay loam over shale

Viticulture

From vineyards that lie on the Santa Rosa Road corridor of the Santa Rita Hills and farmed using organic practices. These sites consist of varying soil types from sandy loam, clay loam, chert, shale. This is a wine that we believe best represents the potential of the region as a whole. Vineyards: La Encantada Vineyard, La Rinconada Vineyard, Rancho la Viña Vineyard & Sanford & Benedict Vineyard.

Vinification

On average, 50% whole cluster is retained during fermentation using native yeast. We manage fermentation with a combination of foulage and pigeage for about three weeks before being put to 228L barriques for elevage.

ELEVAGE
17 months - 15% new French oak

Winery Description

Racines is a collaboration between two classic houses from France, led by vignerons Étienne de Montille and Brian Sieve of Burgundy and Rodolphe Péters of Champagne. The team came together to join their individual experiences in hand-crafting wines of purity and transparency to create a range of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cool climate of the Sta. Rita Hills in California.

The project is the first venture for Étienne and Rodolphe beyond France and represents the coming together of all that is wonderful about Burgundy, Champagne and California.

These wines confirm something many have long suspected: that if you are looking to make terroir driven, elegant, balanced wines in the new world, then Sta. Rita Hills is the place.